Andrew



(No Model.)

A. L. BIKER. TROLLEY FOR ELEUTRIG RAILWAY SYSTEMS.

Patented Sept. 24, 1889.

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ATnNr FFICE.

7 ANDREW L. BIKER, OF NEWV YORK, N. Y.

TROLLEY FOR ELECTRIC-RAILWAY SYSTEMS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 411,613, dated September 24, 1889.

Application filed April 22, 1889.

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, ANDREW L. BIKER, of New York city, in the county and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Trolleys for Electric-Railway Systems, which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification.

This invention has reference to the construction of trolleys for use on cars driven by electricity, in which the energy is conveyed to the Vehicles by wires supported overhead.

As generally heretofore constructed the swinging arm of the trolley has been pivoted upon a base or support which is itself pivoted to the roof of the car, so that the whole device can turn on a vertical axis. W'hen the car has reached a terminus, it is necessary to swing the device around in order to run the car in the other direction.

According to this invention the swinging arm is controlled bya spiral spring connected near the lower end'thereof, and the said arm is pivoted in its support in such manner that it can be turned on its pivotuntil it passes a vertical line therefrom, and made to assume the proper angular position on either side of said vertical line. The support carrying this arm is itself pivoted on a fixed base or standard, and is capable of turning on a vertical axis, so that the roller may always keep in contact with the wire.

The accoin Jan in drawin s re resent a trolley constructed in accordance with the invention, Figure I being a front view, partly in section, and Fig. 11 a side elevation.

A represents the swinging arm carrying at its upper end the grooved contact-roller B, and G represents a spiral spring connected at one end to the arm A and at the other to the support D. The said support D is bifurcated Serial No. 308,1 5!!- (llo model.)

at its upper end and between its two branches or limbs the 'arm A is pivoted at a. The spring C is placed between the two limbs of support D, and ittends to keep the arm Ain a vertical position. The construction permits arm A to bend in either direction, obviating the necessity of walking around the car with the guide-cord to reverse the position of the trolley. The arm A is held in its angular position, as shown, by its contact with the wire Z), from which the current is taken. By means of cord c the arm A can be inclined in either direction until the roller B comes under the wire I), when it is released, the tension of spring 0 preserving the contact between said roller and wire.

The lower part of support D is hollow, and it fits over a stationary pin or upright (1, upon which it can turn. It is necessary to give the arm A some freedom of motion laterally, so that the roller B may always keep in contact with the wire Z), when curves are turned, for example.

I claim- The combination of the support pivoted so as to turn on a vertical axis, the swinging arm pivoted to said support and capable of turning on its pivot,'so as to incline either forward or backward, and a spiral spring connectcd with said arm and support and tending to resist the bending of said arm in either direction, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribwitnesses.

ANDREIV L. BIKER.

W itnesscs:

PHILIP MAURO, CHARLES J. HEDRICK. 

